"He never asked me to defend him. I merely thought that if you knew the truth, you might help him." "I? How?" "It is for you to find a way. He has met with opposition and treachery at every step; I think it is time some one came to his aid." "He has had your assistance at all times, has he not?" "I have tried to help wherever I could, but--I haven't your power." Mildred shrugged her shoulders. "You even went to Seattle to help him, did you not?" "I went there on my own business." "Why do you take such an interest in Mr. Emerson's affairs, may I ask?" "It was I who induced him to take up this venture," said Cherry, proudly. "I found him discouraged, ready to give up; I helped to put new heart into him. I have something at stake in the enterprise, too--but that's nothing. I hate to see a good man driven to the wall by a scoundrel like Marsh." "Wait! There is something to be said on both sides. Mr. Marsh was magnanimous enough to overlook that attempt upon his life." "What attempt?" "You must have heard. He was wounded in the shoulder." "Didn't Boyd tell you the truth about that?" "He told me everything," said Mildred, coldly. This woman's attitude was unbearable. It would seem that she even dared to criticise her, Mildred Wayland, for her treatment of Boyd. She pretended to a truer friendship, a more intimate knowledge of him. But no--it wasn't pretense. It was too natural, too unconscious, for that; and therein lay the sting. "I shall ask him about it again this evening," she continued. "If there has really been persecution, as you suggest, I shall tell my father." "You won't see Boyd this evening," said Cherry. "Oh yes, I shall." "He is very busy and--I don't think he can see you." "You don't understand. I told him to come out to the yacht!" Mildred's temper rose at the light she saw in the other woman's face. "But if he should disappoint you," Cherry insisted, "remember that the fish are running, and you have no time to lose if you are going to help." Mildred tossed her head. "To be frank with you, I never liked this enterprise of Boyd's. Now that I have seen the place and the people--well, I can't say that I like it better." "The country is a bit different, but the people are much the same in Kalvik and in Chicago. You will find unscrupulous men and unselfish women everywhere." Mildred gave her a cool glance that took her in from head to foot.